Izaga 9
1 Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
2 Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
She has sent out her maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
“Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
5 Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
10 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
15 ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
